Chapter 13 The Promise

It had been 2 days since I had last seen them. I was driving around New York at the time when Thalia asked for me to come get them. Lucky for them I was only a few miles away from where they were. My car was still the Subaru that I'd dropped them off in, as I was doing a little rally cross event where we met the first time. As I drove toward the street they were on, I saw a flying chariot. They'd done it, they had saved Artemis and, hopefully, Annabeth as well.

I pulled up next to them and saw Annabeths face, the look was priceless. "Hey Annabeth, good to have you with us! I hear you need a lift to Mount Olympus." Annabeth was gawking at me. "Okay we have like 20 minutes to get to Olympus, get in I will explain everything!" It took 10 minutes to get through the whole story. "So, you are a son of Poseidon, Percy's, twin and you erased our memories. Why?" I looked at Annabeth through the mirror. "Poseidon kept telling me the time for you all to meet me wasn't those days we met. It was meant to be at the Military school." I pulled up outside the Empire state building.

We stepped out the car. "We have five minutes left of the council and we're not getting there in time by elevator and walking. Don't move, I'll Mist Travel us up there." I held Thalia's hand and Annabeths, a little awkward. "Percy take Annabeths hand." He obeyed. I concentrated on the throne room to Olympus and we dissolved into Mist. We appeared in the throne room startling Zeus mid sentence. I dropped to my knees and said, "Sorry, didn't want to walk all that way. Contin-" My head hit the marble floor with a loud thud. Apollo healed me, I gathered he did because my eyes flickered open with him looking over me. He smiled at me and sat back on his throne. "Sorry again, Mist Travel is dangerous when it's just me, I nearly killed myself with three others." I sat on the marble floor and rested. Zeus grunted, "Demigods." and carried on with the court. They came to the conclusion that something will be done about Kronos. I looked to my left and saw Grover standing next to Annabeth, how he got here I don't know. Percy talked to Poseidon about an Orphiotaurus, and kept pointing to the corner. It was something to do with a monster so terrible it could wipe out the gods if it fell into Kronos' hands. It didn't look like much of a threat, it just looked like a weird cow-fish.

Athena then stood up and addressed the court, "And what of these two-" I cut her short "Three." All the gods looked at me, "I'm Percy's brother." All eyes then turned to my father. Athena looked at him with disgust, "You broke the ancient law not once but twice!" I stood and confronted Athena, I didn't care, "No. He broke it once. Yes im a son of Poseidon but I'm also a twin brother to Percy." Athena looked at me with a surprised expression. She clearly wasn't used to demigods answering her back. "Okay then, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted. We cannot let these Demigods live. If we kill them they are no longer a threat." Some of the gods started to grumble in agreement but those who didn't I knew were on our side. Poseidon grumbled, "You will not harm my sons." "Nor will you harm my daughter." Zeus put in.

A smile crept onto my face, I stepped forwards, "Plus Athena, I think having one god on your case is enough, let alone 6 more." She stared at me, if looks could kill and I think she could probably do that, I would be dead. "What do you mean 6 more?" she bellowed. At that point I didn't care, I laughed, yes laughed. " Well for a start, you already have my father on your case, and due to the lack of agreement from your comment about killing us, I see that Zeus wouldn't want harm to his daughter, that's one more. Then there is Apollo, Artemis, Hephaestus, and Hecate. Oh yeah, and someone you never want as an enemy, Ares." I was still smiling even during the compliments about my skills in each part of training I had received. They must have thought I deserved it, seen as I did appease them somewhat a bit more than my own father. Athena sat back down looking a little bewildered on a demigod telling her otherwise. The gods that agreed to our deaths clearly got the message, kill me or my friends and there would be a war.

I walked back over to where my friends were standing and noticed they were all gawking at me, it brought the smile back to my face. They were amazed I was standing up for them to the goddess of wisdom and battle strategy and the other gods. Annabeth was sending mixed emotions with her facial expressions, hatred, amazement, fear. "Plus, Seen as you all didn't even realize until now that I was a son of Poseidon, my training with Hecate must have done some good. That meant I could hide my scent from you all, meaning Kronos can't control me, so sorry to disappoint but im not the one in the prophecy. Also im older than 16 back home. Courtesy of Poseidon, with him not telling me my real age and all."

Artemis stood, " And what about you Thalia. Have you came to your conclusion?" Thalia hesitated slightly. "I have Artemis." Zeus leans forward, "Thalia think this through." She looked at her father straight in the eyes. "I have father, by doing this I can never reach 16 in a couple of days." she turned back to Artemis and recited the pledge to Artemis. My heart dropped. Artemis accepted her pledge, but I could hear a slight hesitation in her voice. Thalia came over to Grover and hugged him, then Annabeth and then Percy. She knew saying goodbye to me would be hard, even due to the fact I was already walking to the doors that lead outside. She didn't try to call me back, but I heard her voice in my head say, "I'm sorry Arc." and with that I was gone, walking down the stairs towards the elevator.

I strolled out of the building, my head hung low and looked at my car. It was no longer my rally cross car, it was now an Aston Martin Virage. I sat in the car for about 20 minutes, looking at the clock it was about 9pm. Then the three of them came down from the elevator. Percy and Annabeth climbed in the back and Grover sat in the front. Grover closed the door and I didn't even wait for everyone to put on their seat belts. I put my foot down hard on the accelerator causing everyone's heads to hit their head rest. "Uh, can you slow down? And weren't we in your rally cross car earlier?" Annabeth asked. I eased of the accelerator slightly so we were now doing 40 mph. "He added something he designed which allows it to change according to his emotions or what he wants." Percy explained. "My guess he is angry?" Percy questioned. I gritted my teeth, "Am I glowing and does this look like an Italian Super car?" Grover, being a Satyr, saw the tiny little details in my emotions. Annabeth tried to lighten the mood and to change the subject, "Arc, im not very pleased you showed up my mother you know." I didn't respond.

"I still can't believe she wanted to kill, you, Percy or Thalia." The moment she said her name my expression hardened and I slowly applied pressure to the accelerator again. Grover noticing this slight emotion change and suggested to Annabeth, "I think that's a touchy subject at this time Annabeth. I don't think you should mention that name." Annabeth looked rather confused, "Who's name?" At that point I snapped. My knuckles turned white from where I was gripping the steering wheel to hard, the faint sea water smell filled the air. "Annabeth you're a daughter of Athena, use that brain she gave you." She looked appalled I just spoke to her like that. She sat in silence for a few minutes then her eyes widened,"Oh. Oh now it makes sense on why she didn't stop you. Did she-" I cut her off, "Yes, can we change the subject."

We arrived back at camp. Grover stepped out and Annabeth and Percy followed. "Arc, you coming?" I sat there for 10 seconds, picked up my sword and stepped out. I strapped the sword, now known as the destroyer to my belt, and went to the back where I pushed the logo on the boot and turned into a key ring of the Aston Martin on the keys.

"Since when do you have and use a sword?" Percy wondered. "Long, painful and sensitive subject." I gripped the hilt and walked to the hill. As we were walking, there was a shimmer and a goddess appeared in front of us. I was the only one who seemed to notice and growled, " What do you want Aphrodite, im not in the mood." Percy gave me a quizzical look, "Aphrodite?" I looked at them all clearly they thought I was losing it. "I only appeared to you like I did with Percy on his quest." I looked at them again and said that I would meet them at the campfire. They walked off leaving me alone with the goddess of love. "What do you want with me then?" she looked at me from head to toe and simply replied, "Artemis and I had a discussion about you and Thalia, usually we never agree on anything, but in the interest of love. Well that changes the story." I stared at her blankly and rolled my wrist for her to carry on and get to the point. "Artemis knows about the feelings Thalia has for you, she accepted her as her new Lieutenant because she knew that she was powerful, if she went over to Luke's side it would be the end of us." I looked at her still waiting for her to get to the point on why she is here. "Artemis and I came to the conclusion that if she is fading on the battlefield, then we would make her immortal again and put her on Mount Olympus for you. In the mean time you have to simply love and care for her and you must never look upon another female for a loving relationship. This is all I ask of you, a favour for a favour if you will." I looked baffled at that point and said, "So constantly love and care for her, never look upon another girl for a relationship and in return she is put back on Mount Olympus for me. Quick question, how does that help me?" Aphrodite smiled dryly and said "You will understand when the time comes. Oh and one more thing. Thank you for honouring Rachael and Hermes told me to say thank you for honouring Terry." And with that she vanished, leaving behind the smell of sweet scented perfume.

I walked past the dragon guarding the Golden Fleece and headed towards the arena where everyone was gathered to hear the story about their quest. I walked in and Chiron galloped over towards me, "Arc I see you have returned from your little quest too, how was it?" I looked at all the heads turn to my direction and saw hundreds of eyes fixed on me. I cleared my throat ready to talk, " I, uh actually came back 3 days ago, I hid in The Mist and my cabin for a while because I didn't want to talk about it, but." I let out a pretty long sigh, "I might as well get it of my chest. I arrived in London and saw smoke coming from the power station. I drove through the gate, crashed into four Cyclopes and they disintegrated on the spot. There was literally an army there that had invaded my home. No one was around but the two people who took me under their wings when I first came to camp. Rachael and Terry, Rachael was a daughter of Aphrodite and Terry was a son of Hermes. Later on I discovered that they had started going out shortly before I left, and my last look of them was them both hugging each other and they died right in front of me. I watched two of my closest friends who had sacrificed themselves to save the camp, but it wasn't enough." I wiped away a tear that was forming in my eye, "The anger rushed out of me and I slaughtered the entire army with Rachael's sword." I pulled out the celestial bronze sword which shimmered in the light of the camp fire. "I then burned them with their shrouds and burnt all the shrouds of the other fallen campers. I then took the sword and engraved on it, Rachaels name, and her nickname she got for killing a pack of ogres that attacked one night when I was 8. She was Nicknamed, The Destroyer. I honour her by using her sword and do so in her name. Then there was Terry, when he was out gathering supplies he was attacked, just outside of camp. He was attacked by an empousai, and defeated her in hand to hand combat. I then engraved my rings to read Terry on one and on the other his nickname, The Tank. And then I came back here, when I was asked by Thalia for help." I pointed at Percy to tell his story. Annabeth came over to me and hugged me. "I'm sorry about earlier, like I mentioned, im pretty fragile now when it comes to my temper. Plus that was the Ares side of me coming out." she nodded her head and accepted my apology. I walked over and stood in the corner leaning on a pillar while, Percy and Grover took turns telling the story. Then Nico appeared. "Wheres Bianca?" he said with a big smile on his face. Percy then realized that no one had told him about his sister. He walked off with Nico to tell him the news.

He came back 5 minutes later rambling to Annabeth, Grover and I, "he didn't take the news so good, he ran away. Help me look!" he exclaimed. We searched for nearly an hour until we stood on Zeus' Fist and Percy told us. "Nico is a son of Hades." we all looked wide eyed at him, "you can't tell anyone, if word gets out, then boy we are screwed with the Titan war." we agreed not to say a thing. Grover went to go talk to some of his satyr buddies, something about the spirit of Pan and coffee. It was just me Annabeth and Percy. "So what did Aphrodite want?" Annabeth questioned with a grin on her face as she knew the topic already. "Tell you tomorrow, I might be staying for the winter, its not like I have a home to go to now." my voice trailed off as I thought about my two friends who sacrificed themselves. Percy gripped my shoulder, "Arc, you are home." and he and Annabeth smiled at me. "Yeah I guess you right, looks like you might be stuck with me year round Annabeth." I smiled at her. "Actually I'm going to San Fransisco, tomorrow, do you mind taking me?" I shook my head, "Nah, Percy I'll give you a ride home too tomorrow. I will see you guys in the morning. Im shattered."

I woke up to the sound of water running, and remembered there was a fountain placed in here, probably not the best thing if you need the toilet badly. Percy and I got our stuff ready and went to breakfast. Percy was staring at the floor where there was a crack, a fissure Nico opened last night. I threw my keyring onto the ground outside the dining hall and it turned into the Mustang like it usually would, but the colour was different. Instead of sea blue it was now electric blue, for obvious reasons. I put Annabeth's things in the boot we said our goodbyes and left.

On the Journey we sat in silence, we dropped off Percy, "Hey Arc, don't suppose you want to come in and see mum do you?" I looked at him and smiled," I will see her some other time, later Perce." I drove off to drop Annabeth off at San Fransisco. "Arc. What did Aphrodite want?" I looked her in the eye and said, "A favour for favour." She was trying to work it out, "Okay, I think I got it. For you and Thalia." I leaned my elbow on the door, "Bingo."

We sat in silence for about 20 minutes, "Annabeth, Aphrodite also mentioned Percy and that quest." She gave me a look of curiosity, "He told me, he said something about, Aphrodite telling him not to take anything from her husbands scrap yard." I looked at her with a blank expression. "Did he tell you about this quest properly?" Annabeth again looked quizzical, "well yeah, he told us at camp last night." Still with the blank expression I continued, "I was there for the meeting Annabeth. Percy wasn't meant to be on that quest. At first it was going to be 3 Hunters 2 campers. Bianca, Zoë, Phoebe, Grover and I. I rejected because I had my quest to do." I gripped the hilt of the sword, remembering the day. "And then Grover suggested Thalia to go. She accepted and Percy was so content on him going, because he felt like he needed to save you for getting you into that mess, he snuck out the next morning on blackjack using your cap." I saw her hand drift to her pocket where she pulled out the invisibility cap. "Dionysus caught him and was about to bring him back when someone told him otherwise. That person was Aphrodite."

Her eyes widened, "But why?" I continued with what I was saying, "I will get to that, any way, when he was accepted into the quest, and they ended up in Hephaestus's Junk Yard. Again the love goddess came to him, just to tell him to not to take a thing. Wrong. She was there for another reason. And I think you know that reason. Annabeth he couldn't have cared less what happened to Artemis really, sure he wanted to save her but he mainly wanted to save you." I let that comment hang as I pulled up, and got out the car.

I got her stuff out of the boot and Dr Chase greeted us outside his house. He hugged his daughter and gave me a smile and mouthed, "thank you." I walked over to the car and remembered what Percy said. "Dr Chase, im not taking no for an answer, here." I made some money appear with the mist and it solidified into real money, a little thing I discovered I could do ever since Battersea Power station. There was about $50,000 there in my hand. I walked over and handed it to him. "I heard Percy totaled your VW, buy yourself something better." I said handing him the money. If I had a camera I would have taken a picture of their faces, they were funny! Dr Chase tried to deny the money, but I encouraged him to take it, "Honestly its fine, keep it. I found out I could do that sort of stuff at The Battersea Power station. That money is real, and as you can see, I don't really need money for much," as I nodded my head towards my Mustang which turned into a Ferrari then back again. Annabeth hugged me goodbye, "Will I see you next summer?" I walked back to the car, with Annabeths question hanging in the air. "Maybe. We will see." I smiled at her, waved when I was back in the car, and twisted my wrist. I Mist Traveled back to camp.